George Rollie Adams

Look Unto the Land is an excellent novel. The reader is hooked early with a revenge plot, and then later with a budding romance story and with the interaction of the various characters. As a historical novel, the author provides just enough background to keep the story moving without bogging down in minute details. I liked how the author listed his sources at the end of the book so that the reader could do more research if desired.

The author was able to capture the excitement of the early 1920s in south central Arkansas during the oil boom. The muddy streets in Berrytown crowded with horses and cars are vividly portrayed in the this story of rapid expansion of population along with the equally rapid increase in the ills that come with this growth. The discussions about oil exploration and the working with mules were instructive as well as fascinating. The extent of the drug problem was also an eye opener. How the characters dealt with social issues like prohibition, prostitution, and rapid growth of the town was well developed. Also, the problems experienced by black veterans returning from World War I causes the reader moments of reflection.

Characters were all realistically portrayed and relatable. The author captures well the language with local color. While prejudice and bigotry were evident, I appreciated the author's attempt to show that genuine friendships also existed between some blacks and whites. All human relationships can get messy at times, and this was certainly true in the South in the 1920s. However, the author was able to show that in many cases, the friendships are centered on a commonality of purpose, whether farming, driving mules, or just being boys having fun. Most of the characters in the story are like those folks the reader would meet in life—basically good people with some flaws. On the other hand, the characters that will be disliked by the reader have no redeeming qualities. I for one want to know who I am cheering for in a story. The author fails not to disappoint by having little, if any, ambiguity.

The chapter about the meeting held by Billy Sunday, the famous evangelist, was interesting both from a historical and social viewpoint. Historical, because few if any readers would have known Billy Sunday ever came to that part of the United States, since he essentially remained in the Midwest and eastern portions of the United States, and particularly in large cities. But socially, the author offers some insight about the content of the evangelist's messages, but also has his protagonist offer some justifiable reservations about Sunday himself.

Perhaps it is too much to hope that the plot centered on the theft of the nine-patch quilt is based on a true story. What great a great way to keep suspense going to the end. However, if not, then the author is a creative genius to devise such a central part of the entire story. I found myself wanting to keep reading just to know the resolution of the quilt. There were so many "oh-no's" with this quilt that I believed that there could be no satisfactory ending for its return.

The only negative I believe in this novel is the few times God's name is used as profanity. While I commend the author for avoiding coarse language throughout this novel, and in the few places it is used, the situation was such that even a saint would have said the same thing, the use of God as a byword neither adds to the story nor to the development of the character. Many readers will see the expression of profanity as merely gratuitous.

Nevertheless, this was a thoroughly enjoyable read, adding to my knowledge of a little known part of history and of the country. But more importantly, reading Look Unto the Land reinforces the notion that human relations are more important than momentary wealth, glory or even revenge.… (mehr)